TUCSON, Ariz. - #60 Arizona defeats Penn 5-2 after a 3.5 hour battle at LaNelle Robson Tennis Center on Thursday, March 9. Despite losing the doubles point, the 'Cats climbed back in singles.
The doubles point came down to a battle on court two between
Reece Carter and
Lauren Friedman vs. Iris Gallo and Maya Urata. First,
Parker Fry and
Kayla Wilkins defeated Gavriella Smith and Juliana Munhoz 6-2 on court three, then
Salma Ziouti and
Belen Nevenhoven fell 2-6 against Sabine Rutlauka and Eileen Wang at one doubles. The Wildcats ultimately fell 5-7 against the Quakers. It was Friedman's first appearance in a dual match this spring.
Dropping the doubles point meant the 'Cats had to fight back in singles play. Carter put Arizona on the board after defeating Smith in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 at two singles. Ziouti fell 3-6, 4-6 at one singles against Rutlauka to put the Quakers back in the lead 2-1. At five singles, Fry tied the overall score 2-2 with her 7-5, 6-1 win over Urata. Castillo put the Wildcats back in the lead once again when she defeated Wang 7-6(5), 6-3 in the third lineup spot.
Wilkins clinched the match for Arizona in a tight match against Munhoz at four singles. They split sets, with the Wildcat taking the first 6-4 then falling 2-6 before defeating the Quaker in a tiebreaker 7-6(2).
Tanvi Narendran closed out the match for the Wildcats at 5-2 after defeating Gallo 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 at six singles. The victory marked Narendran's eighth win so far this spring.
The Wildcats are now 11-6 overall heading into their doubleheader at home on Tuesday, March 14 against #28 Illinois at 10 a.m. MT and New Mexico State at 5 p.m. MT to complete their last non-conference match of the regular season. Arizona continues Pac-12 play on Friday, March 17 vs. #71 Washington State in Pullman, Wash.
Results
#60 University of Arizona 5, Pennsylvania 2
Singles competition
1. Sabine Rutlauka (PENN) def.
Salma Ziouti (ARIZ) 6-3, 6-4
2.
Reece Carter (ARIZ) def. Gavriella Smith (PENN) 6-3, 6-4
3.
Midori Castillo-Meza (ARIZ) def. Eileen Wang (PENN) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
4.
Kayla Wilkins (ARIZ) def. Juliana Munhoz (PENN) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-2)
5.
Parker Fry (ARIZ) def. Maya Urata (PENN) 7-5, 6-1
6.
Tanvi Narendran (ARIZ) def. Iris Gallo (PENN) 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 1, 5, 3, 4, 6
Doubles competition
1. Sabine Rutlauka/Eileen Wang (PENN) def.
Salma Ziouti/
Belen Nevenhoven (ARIZ) 6-2
2. Iris Gallo/Maya Urata (PENN) def.
Reece Carter/
Lauren Friedman (ARIZ) 7-5
3.
Kayla Wilkins/
Parker Fry (ARIZ) def. Gavriella Smith/Juliana Munhoz (PENN) 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
